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Saturday, 4 February 2012

F1 Launch Roundup 27/01/12 - 04/02/12

After Caterham launched their 2012 challenger, the CT01, last week (http://www.dwmotorsport.blogspot.com/2012/01/daily-roundup-240112_25.html) This week was the turn of McLaren, Ferrari and Force India to unveil their new cars.

McLaren

McLaren surprised many by unveiling a car that did not feature the so called 'platypus nose' as seen on the Caterham that was expected to become the norm this season. The smooth lines of the MP4-27 led the car to be called 'beautiful' by driver Jenson Button. The MP4-27 features narrower rear bodywork to improve airflow at the
rear. The bizzare U-shaped sidepods of the 2011 MP4-26have been ditched due to new exhaust regulations. The cooling system has been revised so that itdirects air to the
gearbox oil-cooler.

Test driver Oliver Turvey will be first to drive the car at Jerez early next week.

Ferrari

After cancelling their formal launch event due to heavy snow in Northern Italy, Ferrari unvieled the new F2012 race car online early on Friday (3rd of February). The dramatic design of the new car has been led by Brit Pat Fry and is the car the Scuderia hope will return them to championship glory after conceding that they had been to conservative in recent years. The F2012 features a very pronunced bump on the nose leading some to call it the 'lego car' as well as an airbox similar to that of the 2011 McLaren racer.OZ have also become Ferrari's new wheel suplier for the 2012 season replacing German firm BBS.

Force India

Force India also unveiled their car on Friday at a freezing cold Silverstone circuit. The VJM05 is the 4th car to race with a Mercedes engine and features a revised sidepod design due to new exhaust regulations, a 'platypus nose' reminiscent of the Caterham CT01. The car also returned to a conventional airbox design after opting for a 'blade' approach in 2011.

The car and it's striking new livery was unveiled by race drivers Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg with new reserve Jules Bianchi looking on. Di Resta later took to the track to give the car it's innitial shakedown run.